Without our fantasies we would never become who we are
Barry MagidApril 16th 2016

When we embark on our practice of Zen we are inevitably in the grip of fantasies of what it will do for us. And they may be just that. They may bear no resemblance to what practice might actually do. Dogen tells us not to think that ash is after firewood or that firewood becomes ash. Each is complete as what it is. This radically goes against our notions of progress. And yet, without our fantasies, we would never become what we are.

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Gary Snyder
The Great Clod

The great clod burdens me with form, labors me with life, eases me in old age, and rests me in death. So if I think well of my life for the same reason I must think well of my death.

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